Discussion
722Adam said:
I've just sat and read through this thread (with one break for a lecture ) and was devastated when I read that you had given up, and then relieved when I carried on reading! Although I've had no experience in any kind of project like this, let alone one with such attention to detail, I can still imagine how good it will feel when it's all finished and you have an amazing example of an E36 that you've built yourself.
You made the right choice.
1000% this, sums it up perfectly. I just read it from the start too and would have been absolutely gutted if you'd really let the car go, but hopefully now it's in the hands of someone who can restore your faith and get it looking perfect.You made the right choice.
Eagerly awaiting the next steps! Your meticulousness is boggling, I love it
I quickly popped into Ambassdor coachworks yesterday to see how the shell is progressing, there are a couple of minor issues which iam not happy with and they are going to rectify but in general it is 100 times better than the original paintjob
Anyway ill let the pics do the speaking;
As you can see the finish is still nice, however i now have primer under the paint, there are no missing bits and no dirt in the paint.
Anyway ill let the pics do the speaking;
As you can see the finish is still nice, however i now have primer under the paint, there are no missing bits and no dirt in the paint.
Ok just back from my workshop, got a few jobs done.
Back in the workshop
First job was to sheet up the inside and protect the rollcage
Then put all the factory grommets back in, with the help of pics i took before they were removed.
Then started refitting parts
First installed the wiper motor and fire extinguisher nozzles/piepwork
ECU Bracket
Steering Column
Wiring Loom, using OEM style cloth tape
Rebuilt the front bumper, have new trims but waiting until the bumper is fitted before i put them in.
Back in the workshop
First job was to sheet up the inside and protect the rollcage
Then put all the factory grommets back in, with the help of pics i took before they were removed.
Then started refitting parts
First installed the wiper motor and fire extinguisher nozzles/piepwork
ECU Bracket
Steering Column
Wiring Loom, using OEM style cloth tape
Rebuilt the front bumper, have new trims but waiting until the bumper is fitted before i put them in.
Just a quick update as i popped up to the workshop for a couple of hours after work today.
Picked up a few bits from BMW
So i got them fitted, sounds easy but with all the paint that is now on the shell the side skirts grommets didnt want to go in, and as a result i now cant feel the ends of my thumbs anyway got them all in evetually.
Also picked up a couple of my replacement stickers for under the bonnet
Picked up a few bits from BMW
So i got them fitted, sounds easy but with all the paint that is now on the shell the side skirts grommets didnt want to go in, and as a result i now cant feel the ends of my thumbs anyway got them all in evetually.
Also picked up a couple of my replacement stickers for under the bonnet
Just got back from the workshop, got a few more bits done tonight
Drivers side wiring loom finished and all put in position
Fitted the earls brake lines to the bulkhead
Then fitted the brake servo
After which we fiited the clutch and brake pedals
As it stands now, next job is to attack the passenger side loom
Drivers side wiring loom finished and all put in position
Fitted the earls brake lines to the bulkhead
Then fitted the brake servo
After which we fiited the clutch and brake pedals
As it stands now, next job is to attack the passenger side loom
Busy weekend up at the workshop so far, colected a few more clips an grommets from BMW, so got them fitted.
Grommets for boot trim
Got new clips for bonnet rubber so cleaned that and refitted
Next job was to start dealing with the underside of the car, we had removed a few ares of underseal, some because there was some spots of rust that needed to be treated, others where the cage and various brackets had been welded in, these areas were treated and etch primed before the shell was painted so now just needed a new coat of underseal and a fresh coat of paint.
So first job was to get the car up on axle stands
With that done the underside was washed 3 times using meguiars APC with a scrubbing brush then a rinse with water, once finished the floor of the workshop was wet vacuumed, this took 5 hours in total but it came up nice.
By the time i finished this it was 2:30 am so it was left to dry out over night.
This afternoon popped up and applied the new underseal
This has now been left to dry out overnight, and tommorrow the whole underside will receive a coat of white hammerite.
If your wondering why this is being done now instead of before the paint job, its because originally the underside was going to be painted black, so we left it as it would have got covered in white overspray, as it happens i changed my mind and its going white now.
Grommets for boot trim
Got new clips for bonnet rubber so cleaned that and refitted
Next job was to start dealing with the underside of the car, we had removed a few ares of underseal, some because there was some spots of rust that needed to be treated, others where the cage and various brackets had been welded in, these areas were treated and etch primed before the shell was painted so now just needed a new coat of underseal and a fresh coat of paint.
So first job was to get the car up on axle stands
With that done the underside was washed 3 times using meguiars APC with a scrubbing brush then a rinse with water, once finished the floor of the workshop was wet vacuumed, this took 5 hours in total but it came up nice.
By the time i finished this it was 2:30 am so it was left to dry out over night.
This afternoon popped up and applied the new underseal
This has now been left to dry out overnight, and tommorrow the whole underside will receive a coat of white hammerite.
If your wondering why this is being done now instead of before the paint job, its because originally the underside was going to be painted black, so we left it as it would have got covered in white overspray, as it happens i changed my mind and its going white now.
Hi There! 1st post, but felt I needed to reply lol!
I know this is an old topic but I've just gone through the same pain as you have and can pretty much match the issues you've had panel for panel lol. Although mine did have silicon in the paint all over, more runs in the wings and dirt all over the place, but I digress.
I was just looking for someone to re-do it and came across this thread. I had been trying to get Steve Denton to take a look at mine for nearly a year, he did actually drive down to me, 30 miles or so, to take a look, but then went off the radar.. not heard anything since. Seems like it's not just me lol
Anyway one thing I did come across in my hunt for another paintshop was WRP Paint & Restoration in Wellingborough, so did a bit of research and ended up here...
I know steve doesn't have his own paint booth as he works out of a small unit in Northampton but from the pics it looks like he gets all his cars painted at WRP, which has kind of put me off giving them a call after seeing this thread!
Glad you ended up keeping the project going, I'm in that "may as well sell it" stage after my bad experiences and need a bit of inspiration to keep me motivated.
I'm guessing you rate the company that did the paintwork in the end?
I know this is an old topic but I've just gone through the same pain as you have and can pretty much match the issues you've had panel for panel lol. Although mine did have silicon in the paint all over, more runs in the wings and dirt all over the place, but I digress.
I was just looking for someone to re-do it and came across this thread. I had been trying to get Steve Denton to take a look at mine for nearly a year, he did actually drive down to me, 30 miles or so, to take a look, but then went off the radar.. not heard anything since. Seems like it's not just me lol
Anyway one thing I did come across in my hunt for another paintshop was WRP Paint & Restoration in Wellingborough, so did a bit of research and ended up here...
I know steve doesn't have his own paint booth as he works out of a small unit in Northampton but from the pics it looks like he gets all his cars painted at WRP, which has kind of put me off giving them a call after seeing this thread!
Glad you ended up keeping the project going, I'm in that "may as well sell it" stage after my bad experiences and need a bit of inspiration to keep me motivated.
I'm guessing you rate the company that did the paintwork in the end?
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